Mechanical toy bicycle.



F! HOFFMANN.

MECHANICAL TOY BICYCLE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17, 1908.

1,183,199., Patented May16, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- Y jmdefiwr F. HOFFMANN.

MECHANICAL TOY BICYCLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 17. $908.

Patented May16,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UN @TATFE ATENT FRANZ I-IOFFMANN, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO THE FIRM OF ERNST PAUL LEHMANN, 0F BRAND'ENBURG-ON-THE-I-IAVEL, GERMANY.

MECHANICAL TOY BICYCLE.

Application filed September 17, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANZ HOFFMANN, a subject of the King of Prussia, and a resident of Berlin, Germany, have invented certain Improvements in Mechanical .Toys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in mechanical toys, and more particularly in that class of wheeled toys of which the devices shown and claimed in my prior Letters Patent, No. 906,881, dated December 15, 1908, are types, and the object of the invention is to provide a device of this general character of a simple and comparatively inexpensive nature having means of a novel and improved description whereby it may be steered or directed in a positive and accurate manner during its operation, so as to permit of performing certain desirable evolutions during its use, simulating the movements of various objects represented by the toys as, for example, the irregular travel of a bicycle or the like.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction, and combinations and arrangements of the several parts of the improved mechanical toy, whereby certain important advantages are attained, and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and more certain and accurate in its operation, and otherwise better adapted and more convenient for use, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the claims.

In order that my improvements may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure-1 is a rear elevation of one embodiment of the invention, wherein the device is made in the form of a bicycle and rider; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, the figure of the rider being omitted; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing another arrangement of the steering or directing means comprised in my invention; Figs. 4 and 5 are, respectively, a rear elevation and a plan view showing the embodiment of my improvements in a toy having a different wheel arrangement; Fig. 6 is a plan view Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented lilay 16, 1916..

Serial No. 453,469.

of a still further embodiment of my improvements; Figs. 7 and 8 are, respectively, a plan and side elevation of still another formation of toy comprised in the invention and Fig. 9 1s a plan view of the toy illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 with its parts shown in an inclined position.

The improved mechanical toy constructed according to my present invention may be drlven in any ordinaryor preferred manner, the particular nature of the driving means employed being immaterial to my present invention. As shown in Fig. 2, the driving means includes a spring barrel 2 driving an arbor l whereon is a toothed wheel 3 meshing with a pinion 4 upon the arbor 5 journaled in the frame 13 of the toy. The arbor 5 also carries a toothed wheel 6 meshing with a pinion 7 the shaft whereof is geared through a chain 8 and appropriate wheels with the rear axle 9 whereon is secured the rear or driving wheel 9 of the toy, so that the movement of the arbor 1 under the influence of the spring in barrel 2 is communicated to said rear wheel 9 to impel the toy over and along the surface whereon the same is rested.

The toy shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is made in the general form of a bicycle, and the arbor 1 is provided at one end with a crank 10 located at one side of the frame 13 and connected by means of a link 11 with an arm 12 extended laterally from the pivotally mounted front fork 12 for the front or steering wheel 12 of the bicycle toy, so that during each revolution of the arbor 1, the front or steering wheel 12 is turned first in one direction or toward one side of the toy and afterward in a different direction toward the opposite side of the toy, the repeated oscillatory movements thus imparted to said front or steering wheel during the operation of the driving means serving to steer or direct the travel of the toy along an irregular or Zigzag path.

In order that the toy may be supported in such a manner as to prevent it from overturning during its travel, the frame 13 is provided at its opposite sides with downwardly and outwardly curved arms 13 the free extremities whereof carry rollers 14, 14 which rest in rolling contact upon the surra s saz i eih L i face over which the device is propelled as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

In the structure shown in Fig. 3 the steer ing or directing of the toy, instead of being accomplished by mechanical control of the steering wheel 12 as in the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is steered or directed by means including a transversely extended axle 15, pivoted at its central part upon the frame 13 and provided at its extremities with wheels or rollers 14, 14 positioned at opposite sides of the device for supporting engagement with the surface over which the toy is propelled, said axle 15 being coupled by a link 17 with a crank 18 upon one of the arbors of the driving means in such a manner that the axle is compelled to oscillate in a horizontal plane upon its fulcrum at 16 in such a way that the lateral steering wheels 14: are caused to stand first at one angle to the frame, to direct the toy in one way and afterward to stand at a different angle to the driving wheel to change the direction of the toy in order that the same may be steered along a zigzag path.

It will be understood, of course, that the invention is not confined in its application to toys in the form of bicycles, but may be embodied in other forms of toy with equally good results. variation made in the form of a duck or the like wherein the steering and directing means is substantially identical with that above described with respect to Figs. 1 and 2, so that the toy is caused to simulate a fowl swimming along a zig-zag course when operated. In this form of the toy, the pro pelling means is somewhat modified, being provided with spaced rear driving wheels 9, 9 which are to be regarded as a single wheel with a broad felly, but as the propelling or driving means is immaterial to my present invention it is thought to be unnecessary to describe this modified formation thereof in detail herein.

In the structure illustrated in Fig. 6, the

steering or direction of the toy is accomplished by means substantially similar to that above described with reference to Fig. 3, and the steering wheel 12 is omitted as being in a measure superfluous, especially when not required for the support of the toy at its forward part.

In the construction shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the toy is steered solely by means of the oppositely arranged rollers 14: which are carried upon arms 23 rigidly attached to a downwardly directed rod 31 revoluble within a sleeve 32 secured in inclined position at the forward part of the frame 13. The rod 31 has its upper end provided with a laterally directed arm coupled by a link 33 with a crank 34 mounted upon a shaft or arbor journaled in the frame and driven Figs. 4 and 5 show such a from the propelling means of the toy. In this construction by reason of the inclina tion of the shaft or rod 31, the reverse rocking or turning movement imparted thereto by means of the crank 34c will serve to depress and push forward first one of the rollers 1 1 so as to incline and deflect the toy in one direction, and afterward to depress the other roller 14: to differently incline and deflect the toy in order that it may pursue a zig-zag path during its travel.

It will be readily understood that various other modifications are possible without de parture from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the toy might be driven from a fly-Wheel arranged outside the supporting wheels and connected with the driving wheel by suitable transmitting mechanism. If desired, also, instead of one figure, as herein shown, two figures'm'ay be arranged on separate bicycles and these may be pivotally connected.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A toy having driving means including a driving wheel adapted for contact witha supporting surface for propelling the toy thereover, steering means including a steering wheel adapted for rolling contact with the supporting surface, an upwardly inclined bearing whereon said steering wheel is pivotally adjustable with relation to the driving wheel for steering and tilting the toy during propulsion thereof, and connecting means eXtended between the drivingmeans and said steering means capable of operation to communicate adjusting move-- ment to the steering wheel from the driving means.

2. A toy having drivingmeans including a driving wheel adapted for contact with a supporting surface for propelling the toy thereover, steering means including asteering wheel adapted for rolling contact with said supporting surface, an upwardly inclined bearing whereon said steering wheel is adjustable angularly and laterally with relation to the driving wheel for steering and tilting the toy during propulsion thereof,

. I 1 5 driving means and sand steermg means caand connecting means extended between the pable of operation to adjust saidsteering wheel angularly andlaterally with relation to the driving wheel, for tilting and de fleeting the toy laterally during propulsion thereof.

3. A toy having driving means including a driving wheel adapted for contact with a supporting surface for propelling the toy thereover, steering means including a steering wheel adapted for rolling contact with the supporting surface, an upwardly in- Y clined bearing whereon said steering wheel is adjustable angularly with relation to the driving Wheel for steering and permitting tilting movement of the toy during propulsion thereof, and driven means recurrently actuated fro-m the driving means capable of alternate operation to communicate reversely angular adjusting movements to the steering wheel.

A. A toy having driving means lncluding a driving wheel adapted for contact with a supporting surface for propelling the toy thereover, steering means including a steering wheel adapted for rolling contact w th said supporting surface, an upwardly 1nclined bearing whereon said steering wheel is adjustable angularly and vertically with relation to the driving wheel for steering and tilting the toy during propulsion thereof, and driven means recurrently actuated from the driving means capable of alternate operation to communicate reverse angular and vertical adjusting movements to the steering wheel.

5. A toy having a frame, driving means upon the frame including a driving wheel adapted for contact with a supporting surface for propelling the toy thereover, steering means including steering wheels ad acent to opposite sides of the toy, adapted for contact with the supporting surface, an upwardly inclined bearing whereon said steering wheels are adjustable angularly and vertically with relation to the driving wheel for steering and tilting the toy during propulsion thereof, and mechanism interposed between the driving means and steering means operable to communicate opposite adjusting movements to said steering wheels during propulsion of the toy.

6. A toy having a frame, driving means upon the frame including a driving wheel adapted for contact upon a supporting surface for propelling the toy thereover, steering means including steering wheels laterally directed from opposite sides of the frame out of alinement with the driv ng wheel and adapted for rolling contact with the supporting surface and adjustable relatively to the driving wheel for steering the toy during propulsion thereof, and mechanism interposed between the driving means and steering means capable of operation to communicate adjusting movements to the respective oppositely arranged steering wheels in reverse directions.

7 A toy having a frame, driving means upon the frame including a driving wheel adapted for contact with a supporting surface for propelling the toy thereover, steering means including a steering wheel laterally directed from the frame out of allnement with the driving wheel and adapted for rolling contact with the supporting surface and mounted for pivotal adjusting movement relatively to the driving wheel for steering the toy during propulsion thereof, and a connection extended between the driving means and said steering means capable of operation to communicate pivotal adjusting movement to the steering wheel from said driving means.

8. A toy having a frame, driving means upon the frame including a driving wheel adapted for contact with a supporting surface for propelling the toy thereover, steering means including steering wheels laterally directed from opposite sides of the frame out of alinement with the driving wheel and adapted for rolling contact with the supporting surface and mounted for pivotal adjusting movement relatively to the driving wheel for steering the toy during propulsion thereof, and mechanism interposed between the driving means and said steering means capable of operation to communicate pivotal adjusting movement to said oppositely arranged steering wheels from said driving means.

9. A toy having a frame, driving means upon the frame including driving wheels adapted for contact with a supporting surface for propelling the toy thereover, steering means including a steering wheel laterally directed from the frame out of alinement with the driving wheels, and adapted for rolling contact with the supporting surface and pivotally mounted relatively to the driving wheels for steering the toy during the propulsion thereover, and a connection extended between the driving means and said steering means, capable of operation to communicate swinging movement to the steering wheel from said driving means.

10. A toy having a frame, driving means upon the frame including driving wheels adapted for contact upon the supporting surface for propelling the toy thereover, steering means including a steering wheel laterally directed from opposite ends of the frame and in pivotal engagement therewith, said wheels being out of alinement with the driving wheels and adapted for rolling contact with the supporting surface and capa' ble of swinging movement relative to the driving wheels for steering the toy during propulsion, and mechanism interposed between the driving means and steering means capable of operation to communicate swinging movement to the respective oppositely arranged steering wheels in reverse direc' tions.

11. A toy having a frame, driving means upon the frame including driving wheels adapted for contact with a supporting sur face for propelling the toy thereover, steering means including a steering wheel later ally directed from the frame out of alinement with the driving wheels, and adapted for rolling contact with the supporting surpivotal axis of the steering means being disface and pivotally mounted relatively to the posed on an upward incline. 1 driving wheels for steering the toy during In witness whereof I have hereunto set my the propulsion thereover, and a connection hand in presence of two witnesses.

extended between the driving means and FRANZ HOFF MANN.

said steering means, capable of operation to lVitnesses: M communicate swinging movement to the HENRY HAsPER,

steering wheel from said driving means, the WVOLDEMAR HAUPT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0! Patents, Washington, D. C. 

